INFLAMMATION

INFLAMMATION definition;

• The complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants,and is a protective response involving;

immune cells, blood vessels, molecular mediators

DEFINITION AND CARDINAL FEATURES;

Definition: - Inflammation is the response of living tissue to injury. It involves a well-organized cascade of fluid and cellular changes within living tissue.

Cardinal features: Rubor (redness); Tumor (swelling); Calor (heat); Dolor (pain); Functio laesa (loss of function)

CAUSES; Etiologic agents – viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites ,Hypersensitivity – body reacts against itself, there are four types of reaction,trauma, sunburn, Necrosis - anoxia, trauma.

tumor

Tissue necrosis Redness

General characteristics of inflammation; are as follows: 1. The inflammatory process is redundant and complex. .Many mediators of inflammation have the same functions and many mediators have multiple functions. Also, the same mediator may have different effects on different tissues. 2. The process is continuous over a period of time. Peracute, acute, subacute, and chronic are terms used to describe different stages of inflammation. 3. Inflammation is caused by a stimulus and removal of the stimulus should result in abatement of inflammation. If it doesn’t get fixed in the acute period, it becomes chronic. 4. Blood is the primary delivery system for inflammatory components. 5. Inflammation is on a continuum with the healing process.

Causes of Inflammation; Microbial infections; One of the most common causes of inflammation is microbial infection. Microbes include viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi and various parasites. Viruses lead to death of individual cells by intracellular multiplication, and either cause the cell to stop functioning and die, or cause explosion of the cell (cytolytic), in which case it also dies. Bacteria release specific toxins – either exotoxins or endotoxins. Exotoxins are produced specifically for export (like anthrax toxins or tetanus toxins) whereas endotoxins are just part of the cell walls of Gram negative bacteria and they do terrible things to the body too but they aren’t as specific in their actions as the exotoxins.

Hypersensitivity reactions; A hypersensitivity reaction occurs when an altered state of immunologic responsiveness causes an inappropriate or excessive immune reaction that damages the tissues. Physical agents, irritant and corrosive chemicals Tissue damage leading to inflammation may occur through physical trauma, ultraviolet or other ionizing radiation, burns or excessive cooling ('frostbite'). Corrosive chemicals (acids, alkalis, oxidizing agents) provoke inflammation through direct tissue damage. These chemical irritants cause tissue damage that leads directly to inflammation. Tissue necrosis; Death of tissues from lack of oxygen or nutrients resulting from inadequate blood flow (infarction) is a potent inflammatory stimulus. The edge of a recent infarct often shows an acute inflammatory response.

TYPES OF INFLAMMATION;

ACUTE INFLAMMATION• Acute inflammation is the initial

response of the body to harmful stimuli and is achieved by the increased movement of plasma and leukocytes (especially granulocytes) from the blood into the injured tissues. A series of biochemical events propagates and matures the inflammatory response, involving the local vascular system, the immune system, and various cells within the injured tissue

CHORONIC INFLAMMATIONProlonged inflammation, known as chronic inflammation,leads to a progressive shift in the type of cells present at the site of inflammation, such as mononuclearcells, and is characterized by simultaneous destruction and healing of the tissue from the inflammatory process.

MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF ACUTE/CHRONIC INFLAMMATION;

ACUTE INFLAMMATION CHRONIC INFLAMMATION

ACUTE INFLAMMATION CONTINU…..,

Acute inflammation is characterized by marked vascular changes, including vasodilation, increased permeability and increased blood flow, which are induced by the actions of various inflammatory.The acute inflammatory response requires constant stimulation to be sustained. Inflammatory mediators are short-lived and are quickly degraded in the tissue. Hence,acute inflammation begins to cease once the stimulus has been removed.

Infected ingrown toenail showing the characteristic redness andswelling associated with acute inflammation.

Morphologic patterns Granulomatous inflammation: Characterised bythe formation of granulomas, they are the resultof a limited but diverse number of diseases,which include among others tuberculosis, leprosy,sarcoidosis, and syphilis. Fibrinous inflammation;Inflammation resultingin a large increase in vascular permeability allowsfibrin to pass through the blood vessels. If an appropriateprocoagulative stimulus is present, suchas cancer cells, a fibrinous exudate is deposited.This is commonly seen in serous cavities, where theconversion of fibrinous exudate into a scar can occurbetween serous membranes, limiting their function.The deposit sometimes forms a pseudomembranesheet. Purulent inflammation: Inflammation resulting inlarge amount of pus, which consists of neutrophils,dead cells, and fluid.

Purulent inflammation

Inflammatory disorders;Inflammatory abnormalities are a large group of disordersthat underlie a vast variety of human diseases. Theimmune system is often involved with inflammatory disorders,demonstrated in both allergic reactions and somemyopathies, with many immune system disorders resultingin abnormal inflammation. Non-immune diseaseswith causal origins in inflammatory processes includecancer, atherosclerosis, and ischaemic heart disease.

Examples of disorders associated with inflammation include: Acne vulgaris Asthma Autoimmune diseases Autoinflammatory diseases Celiac disease Chronic prostatitis Diverticulitis Glomerulonephritis Hidradenitis suppurativa Hypersensitivities

INFLAMMATION PROCESS;

Other factors that can influence inflammation;Besides dietary factors, physical activity, fitness, sleep, shift work, stress can affect inflammation. Also,there are auto-immune and other conditions that can influenceinflammation.